TROY -- A Troy man about to be sentenced for felony gun possession surprised the court Wednesday by suddenly proclaiming his innocence.

"I just don't feel this is right," Tyrell Watson told Judge Andrew Ceresia, "Being charged with this weapon I ain't never seen."

Watson had pleaded guilty in February, after a traffic stop in Troy led to the discovery of a loaded firearm in the car he was driving.

Police had been monitoring the telephone calls between Watson and four other men under investigation for their alleged involvement in several unsolved shootings.

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Information gleaned from the wiretaps led Troy police to make the traffic stop which led to the arrests of Watson and four others: Karim Little, 21, Tray Little, 20, Carl Falsen, 23, Robert Davis Jr., 27.

"You people had this thing going for months," Watson said. "I just went to pick these people up at a party. I didn't know these people were committing these crimes in Troy."

Ceresia interrupted Watson to ask if he wanted to take back his guilty plea.

All five men connected with the case pleaded guilty to felony weapons possession, and were set to receive identical five year prison terms after a plea deal.

The five had been facing a maximum term of up to 15 years behind bars before a plea agreement was reached.

Watson, 26, ultimately decided to withdraw his guilty plea.

Ceresia allowed Watson to remain free under electronic monitoring and he cannot leave his home except to report to probation.